MacBook Air · The Aluminum Age · 2008
MacBook Air (1st gen)
Steve Jobs slid it out of a manila envelope and the audience lost it. One USB port and a slow drive made it compromised, but its silhouette became the template for every "ultrabook."
The world’s thinnest notebook at launch, with the tapered wedge that defined laptops for a decade.
MacBook Air (2010) (2010)
▶ Watch the keynote where it was unveiled →
MacBook Air (1st gen): key facts
When was the MacBook Air (1st gen) released?
The MacBook Air (1st gen) arrived on January 15, 2008. Apple discontinued it in October 2008.
How much did the MacBook Air (1st gen) cost?
The MacBook Air (1st gen) launched at $1,799 in 2008, about $2,681 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Intel Core 2 Duo at 1.60 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 78.1 GB storage, 13.3" LED LCD, 1280×800 display.
Why does the MacBook Air (1st gen) matter?
The world’s thinnest notebook at launch, with the tapered wedge that defined laptops for a decade.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo · 1.60 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB |
| Storage | 78.1 GB |
| Display | 13.3" LED LCD, 1280×800 |
| GPU | Intel GMA X3100 |
| Ports | Single USB, micro-DVI |
| Weight | 1.36 kg |
| Dimensions | Tapered 0.4–1.9 cm wedge |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard |
| Released | January 15, 2008 |
| Discontinued | October 2008 |
| Launch price | $1,799 |
How the MacBook Air (1st gen) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1.60 GHz, the clock is roughly 2.0× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 20,000 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,799 in 2008, about $2,681 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
The envelope reveal is one of the most replayed moments in keynote history.
Related MacBook Air models
Open the MacBook Air (1st gen) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11